Prosecutor Laura Nash said Yoxall and Rimes broke into the house on March 17.

Laura Nash, prosecuting, said: "At 3.30am the lady in the house got up to go to work and discovered that her handbag was missing from the kitchen. It contained her purse and car keys. She also discovered that her Nissan Terrano 4x4 was missing.

"A number of transactions had taken place on cards taken from her purse. Two cards were used at three petrol stations. A total of £121.36 was spent.

"Both defendants were apprehended and CCTV footage at the petrol stations showed Yoxall driving with Rimes in the passenger seat. Yoxall drove the vehicle without a licence. The vehicle was later recovered."

Yoxall, aged 38, of Britannia Street, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison after he admitted burglary, taking a car, fraud, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to surrender to bail. He was also banned from driving for three years and eight months.

Rimes, also aged 38, of no fixed address, was jailed for four years and four months for burglary, taking of a car and fraud.

Andrew Turnock, mitigating for both defendants, said: "Mr Yoxall's record is nowhere near as concerning as Mr Rimes. Of late his offending has been petty and he admits most of the offending.

"He is 38-years-old and he approaches middle age with very little to look forward to in regards to his future. He accepts he has a problem with the misuse of drugs and is slowly trying to make some long-term changes.

"Mr Rimes is beyond a three strike burglar. He is a man who has had an awful past, starting his criminal career aged 11 and misusing drugs since the age of eight.

"He has some mental health issues. He is a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic and at 38 he is potentially institutionalised."

Sentencing the pair, Recorder Stephen Thomas said: "This was a night-time burglary of an occupied premises by two of you acting together.

"Flowing from that you took the car keys which led you to take the vehicle and you used the credit cards on three occasions at various petrol stations to the tune of £121. On top of that, you Mr Yoxall, drove the vehicle while disqualified."